Part of a series of posts of Actual Play of the Hikikomori RPG. Click here for more info and an index.

Yay! Ryou survived and even made a difference to the world! Woo!

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, read this post and/or the rules for the Hikikomori RPG.

It was looking pretty grim there for a little while. He tried to kill himself twice but I rolled well on his Hope and he made it (though that meant he lost a die of Hope each time). I know it’s meant to be a sort of depressing game, but I found it really hard to push through the decreasing Hope. I suppose that’s not a bad metaphor for the reality some people face.

I also found that Ryou was so obsessed with his music he didn’t have much time in the day to do other things. He basically tried to make music and deal with his imaginary “friends” for the most part. I chose an Imaginary Friend as my starting trait, but then after choosing to Do Nothing on the first day, I developed another Imaginary Friend. It made it difficult to have to deal with both of them at once. However, while the roll I made for “Their Actions” were often similar, the story moved on and I had enough actions on my turn (even with one eaten up by music) that I could mix things up if I wanted.

I really liked it when Ryou tried to go outside and succeeded! It made me feel like he had a chance and that not all was lost. It also weakened NES, which helped him eventually Banish her. Ryou actually had a Real Friend at the start there – Ben – but Ben’s first action was to determine that he didn’t deserve Ryou’s company, so he disappeared. I played with that a little by bringing him back in when I needed an NPC (like “someone” knocking on the door and awkward conversation ensuing).

I enjoyed my game of Hikikomori, finding that I really did care what happened to Ryou. I’d play the game again and I think you’d get very different outcomes and stories depending on the various Traits you choose and develop (especially if I get a Rescuer or a longer lasting Real Friend next time).

But what is to become of Ryou? Well, here’s what he would write in his journal a few weeks later:

Max isn’t as bad as he used to be, but he’s still here and he still threatens me sometimes. Some days it gets me really down. But, I’ve got my music and I’m hardly ever without my headphones on now. Ben still comes around sometimes but I don’t need that. I don’t like it when people are right there. It’s not so bad online. I can make my music and put it on the web. I’m helping people a bit through the donations people give. I don’t need anything more than that. Not a whole lot has changed for me, but I feel like things are a little better and that there is something I can do in this world.

You might also be interested in reading...